CURRICULUM

The faculty of Indiana University has primary responsibility for degree conferral and for all curricular matters. (See Bloomington Faculty Constitution, Section D, Policy D-8). Faculty approval of curricular changes and new programs is effected by way of faculty review committees at several levels of the University structure. In addition to faculty, administrative, and institutional review, the Legislature of the State of Indiana requires review and approval of proposals for new and changed degree programs by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE). (For ICHE review, see Policy H-1). In 1972, shortly after its creation, the Commission assembled a roster of all degree programs offered by all institutions of higher education of Indiana. Changes and additions to that roster must be submitted to the ICHE.

Curricular Proposals

All curricular proposals are initiated by the faculty of the department or school (or, in the case of interdepartmental programs, multiple departments or schools). Proposals for new curricular initiatives and for name changes for departments, degrees, majors, minors, concentrations, tracks and specializations must be reviewed at the campus level. Other proposals, such as for new majors or degree programs, require additional review (http://www.indiana.edu/~college/faculty/uci/ApprovalProcess.pdf). Because such proposals must eventually make their way to ICHE for review, departments and schools are asked to start the process in the format requested by ICHE. Copies of the format are available from the Bloomington Provost's Office and through this link:
(http://www.in.gov/che/files/program_guidelines.pdf.)

2. School dean (and University Graduate School Dean, where appropriate)

3. Campus Curriculum Committee

4. Provost of the Bloomington Campus

5. Academic Leadership Council

6. IU Board of Trustees

7. Indiana Commission for Higher Education

ICHE Review of Existing Programs

Since 1978 the ICHE has required review of existing degree programs offered by public institutions of higher education in the State. (see Policy H-2). Primary responsibility for the reviews has been placed with the institutions. The Educational Policies Committee of the UFC approved a policy on program reviews in 1993 (see Policy H-3). For professional schools and programs which are subject to external accreditation reviews, those reviews provide a basis for a report to ICHE, and the review cycle will correspond to the accreditation cycle.

Initial reviews conducted under the mandate of ICHE normally consist of a self-study report (including a mission statement and statement of goals) prepared by the program and the report of an external committee. After the program under review has had an opportunity to respond to the external committee report, the deans draft reports on the degree programs for ICHE, in the format agreed upon for submission to the Commission. These reports are reviewed by an administrative committee chaired by the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education for final submission. Subsequent reviews of the same program in later years may follow somewhat different procedures for the purpose of updating the earlier review process.
Questions about ICHE procedures may be directed to the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, 855-8783.

Program Reorganization

Whenever a program review and evaluation raises the possibility of program reorganization or elimination for a unit, the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs are to be notified and kept informed. (See BFC actions Policies H-4,H-5). In turn, the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs consult with the Campus Curriculum Committee. Any decision to reorganize or eliminate a program will be made in accordance with the Contingency Planning Policy of the Bloomington Faculty Council. (see Policy D-12).

New Courses and Course Changes

Requests to create new courses and to change existing courses require faculty and administrative approval on the Bloomington Campus and concurrence by all other campuses. Graduate course changes are now handled on-line through OneStart. Undergraduate course approvals are currently routed as carbon copy documents.

It is essential that all questions on the New Course and Course Change Request forms be answered and a course syllabus appended. It is especially important to consult with and obtain written comments from other affected departments or schools. Course proposals are initiated by faculty or department committees and are submitted after the chairperson’s approval has been received. They are then forwarded to the appropriate school faculty curriculum committee and, in some cases, to the Dean. Courses offered for credit in a graduate program over which the University Graduate School has supervisory control require approval from the University Graduate School (see Policy H-6).

Once approved at the School level, courses are placed on a “Remonstrance List” and circulated to other units and other campuses. Faculty have thirty days in which to remonstrate if they have questions or concerns about a proposed new course or change. If questions or concerns are raised, the faculty who initiated the proposal may be asked to confer with the faculty who have concerns. If no concerns are raised, the course listing is added to the upcoming Course Bulletin or Supplement and the proposal forwarded to the following: the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, the Dean of the University Graduate School, the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs, Provost, and University Registrar. Faculty should plan course proposals well in advance as approvals can take up to 6-12 months.

Interim Approval

Where compelling circumstances prevent completion of this process in time to offer a needed course, interim approval may be granted. To obtain interim approval, the faculty member should prepare the regular form and request interim approval. The form and the request for interim approval are then routed through the departmental chair, the Dean of the School or College, and the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (for undergraduate courses) or the Dean of the University Graduate School (for graduate courses), and the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs (for professional schools).

Overseas and Travel Courses

Faculty who wish to take students abroad, for credit or non-credit experiences, require approval by the university-wide Overseas Study Advisory Council in addition to the usual faculty and administrative approvals. Activities requiring approval include programs open to all students as well as single courses designed by individual schools or campuses, overseas courses offered on a non-credit or independent study basis and organized trips by clubs or teams. Guidelines for submissions are available at: http://www.indiana.edu/~ovpia/ovpia/education/ (see also Policy H-7).

Indiana University Guidelines for Overseas Study Programs

Indiana University is known worldwide for the education abroad opportunities it provides for its students. The President of Indiana University has authorized the Overseas Study Advisory Council to approve or disapprove all proposals for any type of study abroad program organized for IU students, whether or not for credit. The major criteria applied in evaluating proposals for new programs are academic quality, cultural enrichment, student costs, impact on existing programs, administrative efficiency, financial solvency, and student health and safety. Proposals are usually prepared by one or more faculty members with assistance from the Office of Overseas Study, the campus international programs office, and their home department(s). (See Policy H-8). For complete instructions regarding the proposal process, see: http://www.indiana.edu/~overseas/policies/proposal.shtml.

General Education Program

The BFC General Education Committee developed a general education policy for the Bloomington campus over the span of several years. It was approved by the BFC as the General Education Program on September 16, 2008. The program builds the foundation for more specialized study by giving students the opportunity to broaden, deepen and extend their educational experiences. It consists of two components: the Common Ground course distribution framework, which is required for every undergraduate degree program; and Shared Goals experiences, which are recommended for undergraduate degree programs. The Common Ground includes requirements in Foundations (writing and mathematical modeling), Breadth of Inquiry (arts and humanities, social and historical studies, natural and mathematical sciences), and World Languages and Cultures. The Shared Goals recommendations cover intensive writing, information fluency, diversity in the United States, and enriching educational experiences (e.g., internships). The two-part structure is intended to recognize that some experiences are better completed universally by all undergraduates and others are better defined within the specific context of each degree program. The General Education Program will go into effect in Fall, 2011, concurrent with the expectation that students admitted to IUB will have completed the "Indiana Core 40" secondary school curriculum and to coincide with the new admissions standards. (See Policy H-9).

Deviations from Degree Requirements

The Office of the Dean of the Faculties instituted a policy to establish responsibility for approval of deviations from requirements which applies to all Bloomington degree programs.

"Requests for deviation from department, program or school requirements may be granted only by written approval from the respective chairperson, director, or dean (or their respective administrative representative). Disposition at each level is final."

This policy leaves the final decision regarding waivers with the administrator at the appropriate level, avoids the additional problems and procedures of co-signing, appeals mechanisms, etc., and does not diminish the traditional authority of the unit in these matters.

Cultural Diversity

In 2003, the Bloomington Faculty Council reaffirmed the campus’s commitment to diversity in a formal “Statement on Diversity.”

“Indiana University Bloomington's commitment to diversity is an essential part of our overall commitment to generating and imparting knowledge and understanding. All components of our academic mission--teaching, learning, scholarship, research, and creative activity--are immeasurably enriched by students, faculty, and staff with diverse experiences.

Our finest efforts as educators and scholars depend on the interchange of ideas and on the testing of competing assumptions. Interaction on our campus among persons and groups with diverse backgrounds and experiences facilitates those efforts by helping us to become more reflective about the varied historical and social contexts in which we work and learn. For our campus to retain its leadership role within the educational community, we must not merely promote policies of non-discrimination as articulated in the Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Policy of Indiana University. We must include all who comprise our diverse university community and foster a campus climate in which those diverse influences are respected and valued. Indiana University Bloomington aspires to prepare its students for life in a richly complex nation and world, and it expects members of the campus to promote this vision as fully and conscientiously as possible.”

The campus commitment to diversity is made concrete in the BFC policy recommending that each degree-granting unit include a cultural diversity degree requirement appropriate to its curriculum (see Policy I-1), in the shared goals of the General Education requirement, in the practices and policies of the Office of Affirmative Action, as well as in the many programs and initiatives designed to enhance understanding of cultural diversity.

Student Affirmative Action

Indiana University, pursuant to its obligations under Title VI and Title IX, will not exclude any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, or sexual preference from participation in its programs or activities or deny any of these persons the benefits of any program or activity.
Indiana University is committed to correcting the effects of any past discrimination. The University is involved in efforts to increase the number of minority group students and to eliminate gender inequities at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Each campus of Indiana University develops its own programs to deal with the needs of its students.

Students with Disabilities

The University provides reasonable accommodation and auxiliary services which facilitate the higher education of qualified students with temporary or permanent disabilities. Disability Services for Students, a division of the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of the Students, is dedicated to ensuring the accessibility of University programs and services to eligible students. Office staff work closely with the University community to develop and coordinate the implementation of appropriate accommodations. Accommodations are individually determined based on disability specific need and may include modified testing environments, sign language interpreters, and assistance obtaining books in audio format. Additional information about the office and its services can be found at http://www2.dsa.indiana.edu/dss/.

Veterans

Veterans Support Services assists Indiana University students who are veterans, service members, or children or spouses of disabled veterans with University issues or concerns related to their military service, inability to attend orientation due to military orders, deployment during a semester, and delays in VA benefit payment and resulting financial hardship, among other issues. Office staff are also available to assist students who wish to receive education benefits from the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

Accommodation for Religious Observances

Indiana University respects the right of all students to observe religious holidays and will make reasonable accommodation, upon request, for such observances. Each year, instructors are provided with the dates of major religious holidays for which students may request accommodation. Students must submit written requests for accommodation in writing by the end of the second week of the semester. Instructors are expected to give students the opportunity to do appropriate make-up work that is intrinsically no more difficult than the original exam or assignment. (see Policy H-10).

Sexual Harassment

Indiana University does not tolerate sexual harassment of students or employees and responds to every complaint, providing proper remediation when harassment is determined.
Individuals who believe that they have been sexually harassed should notify either their supervisor, an academic or student services dean or official, and/or the Office of Affirmative Action http://www.indiana.edu/~affirm/.

Admission Policies

In 2006, the Bloomington Faculty Council approved a new undergraduate admissions policy. The policy affirms the University’s commitment to the goals of quality, full diversity, and access in its admissions policies. (See [[Policy H-11]). The new undergraduate admissions policy goes into effect in 2011. Until that time, the current admissions policy holds (see Policy H-12).

The new admissions policy sets general standards for the academic preparation and achievements of applicants to the University as well as alternative standards that may be used for applicants who have been home-schooled or who are returning to school after several years. The policy also makes explicit the University’s commitment to having an undergraduate student body whose members represent the full range of diversity within the state of Indiana, the nation, and the world. Indiana University supports and complies with Affirmative Action regulations in its admissions policies. No applicant will be denied admission on grounds of sex, age, race, religion, ethnic origin, veteran status, disability, and sexual orientation.

Transfer Policies

In 2002, the BFC adopted a policy for the review of student applications for the transfer of course credits from other institutions, In some cases, faculty may be asked to advise on course equivalencies. Select faculty also serve as members of the Course Transfer Appeal Board. (See Policy H-14). As part of the admissions standards adopted in 2006, the BFC set the following standards for applicants for transfer to the Bloomington campus from another campus of Indiana University who have not previously been admitted to the Bloomington campus. Such applicants must have an Indiana University cumulative grade point average of 2.3 or higher and should have satisfied the requirements for academic preparation and academic achievements outlined in the general admissions standards. In 2008, the UFC set limits on the number of credits that students may transfer in from Associate’s Colleges upon admission (see Policy H-15).

Admission Policies for Student Athletes

All student athletes must meet Indiana University admissions requirements. To be a Qualifier, student athletes must:

3. Be certified by NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse after submitting an application and paying the required fee.

4. Sign a 10.1 (final amateur certification) statement

Test scores must now be sent from the testing agency and can no longer appear on a high school transcript.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS

The Bloomington campus offers several scholarship opportunities for entering and current students designed to recognize outstanding academic achievement, ease the financial burden of college attendance, and encourage attendance by members of underrepresented groups. A complete description of those opportunities can be found at http://www.scholarships.indiana.edu/achieve/index.php

Herbert Presidential Scholars

The Herbert Presidential Scholars Program is funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment and is administered by the IU Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs. The program was created by IU President Emeritus Adam W. Herbert during his tenure at the university. Originally called the Hoosier Presidential Scholars Program, it was renamed in 2007 by the IU Board of Trustees to honor Herbert and his commitment to recruiting and retaining talented young Hoosiers. Nominees for the scholarship are selected from entering freshman students who are Indiana residents and who have been admitted to an IU campus. These students are nominated by the campus with notifications sent to recipients in mid February. The four-year renewable scholarship is also matched by the sponsoring Indiana University campus. Scholars receive other benefits, including a personal laptop computer and funding to be used for study abroad in their junior or senior year.

Wells Scholars

The Wells Scholars program is named in honor of Herman B Wells (1902-2000), former president of Indiana University. Established by the Bloomington Faculty Council in 1988 (Policy H-17)., and based solely on merit, the Wells Scholarship provides full tuition, mandatory and course-related fees, and a living stipend for four years of undergraduate study on the Bloomington campus of Indiana University. Scholars may choose to spend one of these years studying abroad through the university's overseas study programs. The Wells Scholars Program emphasizes close interaction with faculty; academic and career mentoring; opportunities for internships, research, and community service; a year-long freshman seminar; and frequent contact with distinguished visitors. Between 18 and 22 incoming freshmen receive the award each year. In addition, one to two current Indiana University Bloomington students are selected each year to join the junior or senior class of Scholars.

Hudson and Holland Scholars Programs

In 1987 the Bloomington Faculty Council established the Minority Achievers Program (MAP) (Policy H-17) to attract and support minority students on the Bloomington campus. In 2003, the program was renamed in honor of Herman C. Hudson and James P. Holland, former Indiana University faculty who were strong advocates and mentors for students of color. The program’s mission is to recruit, retain and prepare undergraduate students with outstanding records of academic achievement, strong leadership experiences, and a commitment to social justice. It is an integral part of the campus’s efforts to support educational diversity by building a critical mass of students from underrepresented minority backgrounds. The Hudson Scholars Program assists students pursuing any major; the Holland Scholars Program supports undergraduate students pursuing degrees in the sciences.

CALENDAR/SCHEDULING/REGISTRATION

Calendar Policies

The Bloomington Faculty Council approves the academic calendar (Policy H-18), normally for a five-year period, upon recommendation by the Calendar and Schedule Committee. (For the make-up of the Committee and its charge, see Policy H-19). This calendar provides for a Fall Semester consisting of 14 weeks and two days plus one week for final exams, a Spring Semester of 15 weeks plus one week for final exams, an 8 week summer session, and at least a two-week break between the end of the summer sessions and the beginning of the fall semester. A spring vacation falls during the week following the ninth week of classes during the second semester. The calendar must follow the guidelines established by the University Calendar Committee for all campuses (Policy H-20), and the principles approved by the BFC (Policy H-21). Martin Luther King Day is observed as a holiday (Policy H-22). In 2007, the BFC endorsed a plan to explore an academic calendar with symmetrical fall and spring semesters, Labor Day and Martin Luther King Day as class holidays, Fall and Spring breaks of five weekdays each, and a “free week” prior to the beginning of Fall semester.

Class Schedules

The Bloomington Calendar and Schedule Committee, a committee appointed jointly by the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs and the Bloomington Faculty Council, advises the campus administration on scheduling matters. The Schedules of Classes for each semester and each summer session contain information relevant to registration, course reservation plans, fees, schedule adjustment procedures, late registration, class schedules, and examination schedules. Many of these policies were established by Faculty Council action and are included in this section of the Guide. Procedural matters set out in the Schedule have been cooperatively established by the Schedule Committee and the Registrar's Office. Since 1979, the campus level Student Records Policy Committee has been charged by the Dean of the Faculties with student records policies and procedures. This committee is composed of deans from the degree-granting schools, liaison from the Faculty Council Educational Policies Committee, the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs.

The Faculty Council in 1987 established 50 min./75 min. class meeting periods. Guidelines for scheduling classes within this framework have been developed by the Registrar and approved by the Schedule Committee. Classes and examinations must be conducted at the times and in the rooms listed in the Schedule of Classes. Requests for adjustment should be submitted to the Registrar's Office only in exceptional situations.

Registration

In 1981, the Faculty Council approved the principle of computerized registration as described in the planning document "A Student Registration System Proposed for Indiana University Bloomington." Incorporated into this 99 page blueprint were the details of a computerized system of registration for continuing and new students. The system was to include the following provisions:

Intercollegiate Athletics Programs

In 2004, the Trustees approved an Intercollegiate Athletics Programs Policy for Indiana University which outlines the mission and goals of intercollegiate athletics programs, defines principles of authority and responsibility, and details the structure and functions of campus athletics committees and the Athletics Coordinating Council. (See Policy H-23).

Priority Registration for Student Athletes

By action of the BFC, matriculated students who are athletes in programs in the Athletics Department are eligible to register during a registration time block that immediately follows the time block for graduate and professional students and that precedes the time block for seniors. The policy enables student-athletes to register for courses and sections that they need and that do not conflict with practice and competition schedules. This policy was adopted on an interim basis in 2004, and was reaffirmed by the BFC in 2008, provided that its impact on students who are not athletes remains low. (see Policy H-23).

Tuition and Fees

The tuition and fee schedule for in-state and out-of-state students is established by the Trustees of Indiana University. The Trustees have also provided rules for determining resident status for fee purposes. (see Policy H-24).

Credit by Examination/Advanced Placement Exemption

There are seven options through which incoming students may demonstrate proficiency and qualify for advanced credit, advanced placement or exemption. These options are available to students in most colleges and schools, with some minor variations depending on the specific academic requirements of the unit. Details of the options can be found at http://admit.indiana.edu/apply/freshmen/standards/advanced.shtml When credit is given by exam, only grades of S or A may be used (see Policy H-25).

CLASSROOM AND TEACHING POLICIES

It is expected that all academic appointees will take seriously their responsibilities to the students of Indiana University, that they will prepare carefully and thoroughly for their lectures, seminars, discussion sections, laboratories and other instructional formats that might be used, that they will hold regularly scheduled, liberal office hours which are made known to the students, and that they will respect their students as colleagues dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. The Bloomington Faculty Council, in January 1981, charged the Dean of the Faculties (now the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs) to communicate to the faculty each semester that:

"Faculty members teaching courses have the responsibility to provide instruction as scheduled. Variations from the schedule may occur for a variety of reasons, including illness, professional activities, and pedagogical considerations. When such variations occur, it is the responsibility of the faculty member both to provide equivalent academic activity for the students in the course and to notify the chairperson of the department offering the course of the change in schedule."

The faculty, through the action of its Faculty Council, has imposed upon itself general and specific responsibilities in connection with teaching. These responsibilities are described in the Code of Academic Ethics (see Policy I-1). The Code was approved by the Faculty Council in 1970, and was amended in 1976, 1980, and 1992.

AI English Proficiency Exam

In the fall of 1978, Indiana University at Bloomington began efforts to address the issue of language proficiency among its Associate Instructors (AI’s) whose native language is not English. In 1979, the AI Affairs committee’s recommendation that a screening procedure be established was passed by the Bloomington Faculty Council. Second Language Studies (formerly the Center for English Language Training) has since developed the Test of English Proficiency for Associate Instructor Candidates (TEPAIC). The test, which was initially administered in the fall semester of 1980, determines whether or not international graduate students are proficient enough in English to “engage in the direct instruction of students” (Bloomington Faculty Council Minutes, Nov. 20, 1979). All international graduate students whose native language or mother tongue is not English are required to present a minimum TOEFL score or to take the Indiana English Proficiency Exam (IEPE) prior to registering for the TEPAIC. (see Policy H-26).

Departments are urged to forestall potential problems by requiring an acceptable TOEFL score from all candidates for Associate Instructorships. The Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs is charged with administration of this policy.

Student Evaluations

All instructors are encouraged to seek systematically conducted student evaluations of their courses and teaching. Schools, departments, or individual faculty members may develop evaluation forms which are tailored to a specific school, discipline, or course. Multiple-Option (Multi-Op) forms which are machine-readable are also available from the Bloomington Evaluation Services and Testing (855-1595). Evaluations should be administered in a way which ensures the anonymity of the evaluators. A common practice is to ask one member of the class to submit all the completed forms to a departmental office. The completed forms, following the instructor's review of the data, are usually retained in departmental files for use in personnel and institutional reviews.

Course Activities

Course activities, including night examinations where approved, may not be required of students if the activities require the absence of the student from regularly scheduled classes without the written permission of the teacher of the scheduled class. (see Policy H-27).

Examination Policies

The examination schedule is printed in the Schedule of Classes and is therefore available to students before they have enrolled in any courses. As a result, most examination conflicts can be prevented or resolved at the time of enrollment. Faculty Council policies concerning examinations are:

1. Exam period/free week

a. There shall be a 5-day examination period at the end of each semester. Exams must be given as printed in the Schedule.

b. The week prior to the exam period shall be free of major or final exams, except for practical tests at the end of lab periods. Papers or projects may be due only if assigned well in advance.

c. In the event of more than three exams in one day, the instructor/department of the fourth and subsequent exams is obligated to adjust the student's exam time, provided the student notifies them by the mid-point of the semester.

2. Night examinations

Night examinations may be scheduled for courses with multiple sections only at times when affected students have no regularly scheduled classes and only with the permission of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, the Dean of the University Graduate School or the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs. These administrators need not be contacted for permission where the night examination dates for multiple-section courses are advertised in the Schedule of Classes and thereby known to the students before they enroll.

3. Review of examinations

All instructors are to provide an opportunity for review of hour and mid-semester examinations in each undergraduate course.

4. Examination files

Each department head is to assemble and make available in the library for each undergraduate course, (a) sets of typical biweekly or weekly quizzes, hour and mid-semester exams, and final exams for all freshman and sophomore courses in the department, and (b) typical exams for junior and senior courses.

5. Absence from final exams

Students who fail to attend the final exam of a class and who have a passing grade up to that point should be given an Incomplete only if the instructor has reason to believe the absence was beyond the student's control. If not, the grade of "F" must be awarded.

See Policy H-28 for the Faculty Council actions concerning examinations.

Grading

GRADES

The current grade code for Indiana University is:

A Highest passing grade

B

C

D

F Failed

FN Failed/Non-Attendance [see below]

FX Failed/Retaken [see b) below]

I Incomplete

R Deferred grade [see below]

S Satisfactory [see below]

W Withdrawn [see below]

P Passed [see below]

Plus/Minus Grades

Instructors in undergraduate and graduate courses may use a grading system which includes plus and minus grades. Discussion at the time of the University Faculty Council action confirms (see Policy H-29) that any school or instructor may choose not to award pluses and minuses. Should they be awarded, the Registrar will use the following numerical equivalents in computing GPAs.

Numerical Grade Equivalents (GPAs)

A+, A = 4.0

A- = 3.7

B+ = 3.3

B = 3.0

B- = 2.7

C+ = 2.3

C = 2.0

C- = 1.7

D+ = 1.3

D = 1.0

D- = 0.7

F = 0.0

Grade of "S"

Permission must be sought from the School Dean and the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Dean of the University Graduate School or the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs to offer a course on a Satisfactory/Fail basis. The grade of "S" may be awarded only for such approved special courses, "S" and "F" are the only grades which may awarded to enrollees in such a course. (See Policy H-29).

Grade of "R"

The grade "R" (deferred grade) may be used to indicate that the nature of the course is such that the work of the students can be evaluated only after a period longer than one semester.

It is appropriate in courses in which the student's work is evaluated when the thesis is completed. It may also be used at the end of the first semester of a one-year course if the course is announced as a "deferred grade" course in the Schedule of Classes. This procedure ensures the approval of the department and the willingness of the students to take both semesters of the course before getting a grade. If a student drops the course before the completion of the work, the instructor must assign a regular grade for the course. When a student completes the work, R's are changed to another letter grade via a Removal-of-Deferred-Grade card submitted through the dean of the student's school to the Registrar.

Grade of "I"

The grade of Incomplete may be given 1) only when the completed work for the course is of passing quality, and 2) only upon a showing of such hardship to a student as would render it unjust to hold a student to the normal time limits. A student's desire to avoid a low grade is not a legitimate reason to award an Incomplete. Incompletes are to be removed within a year, although this time may be shortened by the instructor or extended by the school dean. These policies, as well as procedures for removal of Incompletes are set out in Policy H-30.

Grade of “FN”

The grade of FN is assigned to students who have ceased attending class but who have not officially withdrawn. Faculty are asked to provide a last date of attendance when assigning this grade. The grade and the last date of attendance are used by the University in advising students, and to establish a withdrawal date for the return of unearned student financial aid. (See Policy H-32).

Extended-X Grade

By action of the University Faculty Council, any undergraduate who has retaken a course previously failed shall have only the second grade in that course counted in the determination of his or her grade-point average. The student’s transcript shall record both grades. Any grade removed from the grade-point average calculation in accord with this policy shall be marked with an “X” following the assigned grade, to indicate that the grade GPA value has been replaced by that of the grade in the course retaken. On the Bloomington Campus, this “FX policy” was expanded to any grade below an A using an option called the "Extended X Policy.” The Extended X policy allows each student to request an X’d grade exclusion for three courses for a total of ten credit hours. In 2009, the BFC removed restrictions on the academic standing of students who may request X’d grades and adopted a new deadline for students to request that the grade in a current course be used to supplant an earlier grade; in 2011, this deadline was effectively removed. (See Policy H-29).

Official Grades and Grade Changes

On February 17, 1953, the Faculty Council approved a resolution (see Policy H-33) specifying that a grade becomes official after it has been received by the Office of the Registrar and that no change of official grades may be made except with the written consent of the dean of the school with which the faculty member or instructor is associated. Temporary grades such as Incompletes (I) and Deferred Grades (R) are exceptions.

Faculty members or instructors may request a change of a non-temporary grade such as A, B, etc., by submitting an on-line eGrade Change Request. The request form is then forwarded electronically to higher administrative levels for approval.

Academic Fairness Committees

The Bloomington Faculty Council requires that each school have an Academic Fairness Committee (Policy H-34), containing representatives of both faculty and students which is empowered to consider procedural errors and to direct the School Dean to change grades on the basis of the Committee's findings.

Grade Indexing

The BFC has adopted a policy requiring grade indexing to appear on undergraduate transcripts, at least for internal purposes. (See Policy H-29).

Posting Grades

The privacy of student educational records is protected by the Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act (FERPA). The Act prohibits posting student grades by name, social security number,
or student identification without the specific written consent of each student. Faculty members
may post grades by code word or random number known only to the faculty member and student
provided that the list is not in alphabetical order by student name. The practice of leaving graded
papers in unsecured locations for students to pick up later is considered a FERPA violation. All
or any part of the Social Security Number or University ID Number must never be used to
publicly post grades. (see Policy H-33 and
http://www.indiana.edu/~registra/ferpainfo.shtml.)

See also the Indiana University Policy on Student Records (Policy H-35) on the
importance of protecting the privacy of student information, including personal data and student
grades.

The Office of the Registrar has been charged by the Bloomington Faculty Council (see
Policy H-33) with the distribution of the following information to each instructional
unit on campus. The information is to be distributed as soon as possible after the close of the fall
and spring semesters.

1. The total number of GPA grades, the number of each GPA grade awarded, and the number of P's, I's, and W's each department and school on this campus gave to all students in the preceding semester (1) in lower division courses and (2) in upper division courses.

2. The overall GPA each department and school on this campus gave to all students in the preceding semester (1) in lower division courses and (2) in upper division courses.

3. The number of students enrolled, the number of GPA grades, the number of each GPA grade awarded, the number of P's, I's, and W's, and the GPA for each course or section offered in each department or school (if there is no departmental level) in the preceding semester.

Student Academic Misconduct

The Indiana University Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct describes types of misconduct for which students may be penalized, including cheating, fabrication, plagiarism and interference with other students’ work, as well as actions which endanger the University and the University community and possession of firearms. The Code also indicates the procedures to be followed in these cases (http://www.indiana.edu/~code/index.shtml ).

Cheating and Plagiarism

The Faculty Council's action (Policy H-36) concerning the obligations of the faculty member in regard to cheating and plagiarism is quoted following:
"The faculty member has a responsibility to foster the intellectual honesty as well as the intellectual development of his students. He or she should carefully scrutinize his methods of teaching and his assignments in order to be sure that they encourage students to be honest. If necessary, the faculty member should explain clearly the meaning of cheating and plagiarism as they apply to the course."

"The faculty member's obligation is particularly serious in connection with examinations. It is his or her duty to arrange for careful supervision of all examinations and class exercises."

"Finally, should the faculty member detect signs of plagiarism or cheating, it is his or her most serious obligation to investigate these thoroughly, to take appropriate action with respect to the grades of his students, and in any event to report the matter to the Dean for Student Services [or equivalent administrator]. The necessity to report all cases of cheating, whether or not further action is desirable, arises particularly because of the possibility that this is not a first offense, or that other offenses may follow it. Equity also demands that a uniform practice be enforced; otherwise some student will be penalized while others guilty of the same actions will go free."

Student Records

Every academic appointee who maintains records of any sort for students should be familiar with the University's policy on access to student records. In general, student records are open to school officials who have a legitimate educational interest in their contents, except where access is prohibited by special policies such as those governing medical and psychological records. In most other cases, records can only be released (or access given) at the written request of the student. The complete policy appears in Policy H-35.